- In the last decade, India has extended three Lines of Credit (LOC) approximately worth US$ 8 billion to be utilised for infrastructural development in the region.
- Since India and Bangladesh share a land boundary of approx 4095 km, it also calls for them to actively engage in defence and security matters arising from the frequent cross-border movements and issues of human and drug trafficking and other anti-corruption activities.
- India’s ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ aligns with Bangladesh’s ‘Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041’, reinforcing the long-term vision of both nations for regional stability and economic progress.
In the present global order, Bangladesh holds immense strategic importance for India as it is our immediate neighbour on the eastern side. It provides connectivity to India’s Eastern neighbourhood and acts as a gateway to the Far East. In the recent few years, India’s relations with Bangladesh have witnessed cooperation and goodwill as well as tense moments and been subject to occasional disputes. Although the two countries have shared historical ties, their present relations are full of complexities. The article briefly discusses the highs and lows in Indo-Bangladesh relations in recent times.
In terms of trade, Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia.1 India also accounts as the second largest trade partner of Bangladesh in the Asian region.2 In the last decade, India has extended three Lines of Credit (LOC) approximately worth US$ 8 billion to be utilised for infrastructural development in the region.3 The two countries have also discussed operationalising the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Bangladesh has further offered India two Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the region Mirshari and Mongia. It also provides India’s northeast with port facilities for the movement of cargo.
In the past few years, several initiatives have been taken to enhance connectivity between India and Bangladesh. Five rail links between India and Bangladesh that were operational before 1965 have now been rehabilitated with the vision to further strengthen connectivity. In March 2023, the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline was inaugurated through which high-speed Diesel would be transported from India to Bangladesh. Another key project lined up is the Bangladesh-Bhutan-Nepal-India Motor Vehicle Agreement Act which will give a major boost to sub-regional connectivity between the two countries. Some of the ongoing projects in Bangladesh in which India has been assisting are the Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link which is the first of its kind to link India’s Northeastern states with Bangladesh, the Khulna-Mongla Port rail line and the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant which has recently been made functional and electricity will be supplied from India to Bangladesh grid.4 This signifies the importance of energy and power cooperation in India-Bangladesh relations. At present, Bangladesh imports approximately 1160 MX of power from India.
Since India and Bangladesh share a land boundary of approx 4095 km, it also calls for them to actively engage in defence and security matters arising from the frequent cross-border movements and issues of human and drug trafficking and other anti-corruption activities. In recent years, there has been increased collaboration between the two with the signing of several key defence agreements and the conduct of important military exercises. From 20th to 21st August 2023 the 5th edition of the Annual India-Bangladesh Defence Dialogue and the 4th Tri-Services Talks were held in Dhaka with the agenda to review the present defence cooperation between the two countries.5
India is a major power player in the Asian neighbourhood and has provided its neighbours with assistance when needed. Recently, India has offered to develop and launch a satellite for Bangladesh. Furthermore, it has also proposed to grant an e-Medical visa facility to medical travellers from Bangladesh. There are a large number of students from Bangladesh studying in India and are supported by the Indian government. There are multiple forums for the engagement of youth in the two countries such as the Bangladesh Youth Delegation 2022 and the Indian government widely encourages and supports Bangladesh students to study in Indian institutes. In 2021, the GOI launched the “Subora Jayanti Scholarships” for 1000 Bangladeshi students.
However, the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh has resulted in escalating tensions between the two countries as Bangladesh’s political unrest is a direct threat to India’s internal security. The Indian government has issued a high alert to BSF to deal with any kind of situation that may arise due to the unrest. The protests are part of the anti-quota agitations which have gone out of hand and led the government to impose a curfew due to the violence caused. Hence, a grave matter of concern for the Indian government recently was to ensure the safe return of Indian citizens especially its students in Bangladesh.
Besides the present unrest, illegal immigration has been one of the long-standing issues between India and Bangladesh. The influx of migrants is particularly a cause of concern in the Northeastern region of India. The sharing of Teesta River water and the related dispute is another impediment in their smooth relations whereby a mutually agreeable arrangement has not been made in this regard. A few instances of diplomatic spats have also heightened tensions between them.
To conclude, it can be stated that the future course of Indo-Bangladesh relations will be bright despite a few complications. To achieve their shared interests and secure peace and stability in the neighbourhood, the two sides will have to willingly cooperate and navigate their way through the differences. Both India and Bangladesh share a similar vision and agenda for peace and stability in the Asian neighbourhood.
India’s ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ aligns with Bangladesh’s “Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041’. Bangladesh plays an important part in India’s Neighbourhood First policy, the Act East policy towards the ASEAN nations, and the SAGAR doctrine as well as in the Indo-Pacific vision.6 Bangladesh was also one of the guest countries that India had invited for its G20 Presidency in September 2023. Important MoUs were signed between the Prime Ministers of the two countries in the domain of digital payment systems, agricultural research and cultural exchanges during PM Hasina’s visit to India for G20. There is also ongoing collaboration between India and Bangladesh on ‘Green partnership’ and ‘Blue Economy’ for a sustainable future. However, greater ties between the two will require greater collaboration.
References:
- 1 Siddiqui, Huma. India and Bangladesh: A Strategic Partnership Shaping South Asia’s Future.Financial Express. 22 June,2024. https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-india-and-bangladesh-a-strategic-partner ship-sha ping-south-asias-future-3531651/
- 2 India-Bangladesh Bilateral Cooperation. MEA. https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Bilateral-Brief-Bangladesh-February- 2024.pdf
- 3 Siddiqui, Huma. India and Bangladesh: A Strategic Partnership Shaping South Asia’s Future.Financial Express. 22 June,2024. https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-india-and-bangladesh-a-strategic-partner ship-sha ping-south-asias-future-3531651/
- 4 India-Bangladesh Bilateral Cooperation. MEA. https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Bilateral-Brief-Bangladesh-February-2024.pdf
- 5 India-Bangladesh Bilateral Cooperation. MEA. https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Bilateral-Brief-Bangladesh-February-2024.pdf
- 6 India-Bangladesh Shared Vision for Future: Enhancing Connectivity, Commerce and Collaboration for Shared Prosperity. MEA. 22 June, 2024. https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/37897/IndiaBangladesh+Shared+Vision+for+Future+Enhancing+Connectivity+Commerce+and+Collaboration+for+Shared+Prosperity
Faareha is a final-year Ph.D. scholar researching India’s Act East Policy, with a keen interest in the Indo-Pacific region and India’s maritime relations with its neighbours. She has previously interned at the Indian Council of World Affairs, a think tank under the MEA, and has worked as a Subject Matter Expert and Script Writer in Social Sciences.
samvadaworld 
Lakshmi Karlekar 
Channamallikarjun B. Patil
A rare but sane article on the nature of relationship between India and Bangladesh when most are baying for each other’s throat. More such analysis is required which are based on ground realities and not emotions. Kudos to the author.